Monday, March 19, 2007

RENEWABLE ENERGY - the article that Crikey chose not to publish.

History repeats itself when we don't learn the lessons of the past. Yes, we have some renewable energy technologies that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions right now but let's take a reality check.

First, there is nothing that the world can do today that will make any difference to the changes of climate that will occur over the next decade or two. We've been putting out too much CO2 and methane for too many years to be able to make an instant difference. So let's focus on the long term solutions and on what we can do to minimise the impacts of the climate change that will occur no matter what.

Second, some existing technologies are simply not economic to implement. Why waste billions of dollars on high cost or problematic solutions when promising lines of research of new technologies (new PV strips as seen recently on the ABC's Catalyst program) and carbon sequestration (not just clean coal) suggest better and more workable solutions are just a few years away?

Third, the most important and cheapest action that can be taken right now is not the use of renewable energy or clean coal but being more efficient with the energy that we're already producing. It's not an emotionally attractive solutions like some others but it's the one that can be implemented immediately and cheaply. Savings in energy usage of 30% or more are readily available in almost every energy-using situation around the globe at costs that provide a pay-back period of only a few years. Solar hot water systems are one of the best examples, with pay-back periods of 5 to 7 years and an 80% or more reduction in energy required to heat most domestic and commercial situations.

Yes, we have to install more renewable energy facilities into Australia as suggested by Crikey's correspondent Sophie Black (March 13, 2007). But she wants our taxpayer dollars to be provided in large amounts to do this - Mandatory Renewable Energy Targets or MRETs for example - yet she criticises the federal government for wanting to use public funds to make coal more environmentally friendly.

As for BP who claim to be greener than green these days and leading the charge to more renewable energy production, I'll believe their 'holier than thou' statements when they stop selling the product that is the primary cause of our global warming problems: liquid fossil fuels.

The bottom line is that ALL governments must consider ALL options carefully, assist in the funding of ALL technologies that offer promise - picking winners is poor public policy - and inform the public what ALL the options are. At present, no political party or lobby group has put forward a credible and comprehensive package which addresses all the issues, including the need to mitigate the next 20 or more years of climate changes which are unavoidable.

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